8.The Weight Of The Sapper
Vis reflects on a traumatic memory of falling into darkness while his father lets go of his wrist, before returning to reality in the guardroom of Letens Prison. Playing a game of Foundation with an aging, forgetful man named Hrolf, Vis easily wins while monitoring the sparse light through the barred window. Their evening routine is abruptly broken by a heavy hammering at the stone entrance, revealing a tall, well-dressed visitor who introduces himself as Sextus Hospius and presents official documentation authorized by Proconsul Manius. Hospius is a special investigator from the Senate sent to look into census irregularities, requiring access to a specific prisoner named Nateo.
Hrolf prepares to guide the visitor, but a sudden stumble exposes his mental decline and memory lapse. To protect Hrolf from demotion or retirement, Vis quickly intervenes, makes an excuse for the older man, and volunteers to escort Hospius down to the deep cells himself. As they descend the slick, damp stairwells, Hospius questions Vis about his background, his age, and his role in the prison. Vis tries to remain guarded and polite, carefully concealing his true length of service and hiding his rising unease regarding the visitor's underlying motives.
Upon reaching the lowest level, the oppressive atmosphere and foul stench of the long-term prisoners fill the corridors. They pass rows of open alcoves containing naked, emaciated inmates strapped to polished white stone devices known as Sappers, which continuously drain their physical and mental energy. Arriving at cell forty-one, Hospius identifies Nateo and demands to speak with him directly. Vis warns the investigator about the extreme dangers of approaching the active Sapper and prepares to use the winch mechanism to break the connection, despite knowing the agonizing ordeal it will inflict upon the prisoner.
And The Sapper Gives Nothing Back
Vis and Sextus Hospius wait as the winch chains draw the prisoner Nateo upward, peeling him away from the pale stone Sapper. Once locked in place, Nateo regains consciousness, and Hospius approaches him, crouching to speak in Vetusian, a dead language. Listening from a short distance, Vis recognises the tongue due to his upbringing as a trained diplomat. Nateo and Hospius exchange guarded words about a man named Caeror, a past message, and a strange power or gate from before the Cataclysm. Fearing the scrutiny an escape would bring, Vis feigns boredom and paces nearby, struggling to keep his reactions hidden while anxiously awaiting the end of the interrogation.
Realising Hospius cannot get the information he needs, Nateo collapses into terror and despair, begging not to be returned to the agonizing, semi-conscious drain of the Sapper. In a sudden burst of frantic panic, Nateo lunges and grabs Hospius by the tunic, threatening to drag him onto the active stone. Vis acts instinctively, throwing himself between them and breaking the grip. The momentum knocks Vis backward, causing his bare hands to slam directly against the Sapper. Seized by sudden terror, Vis scrambles away and spins the winch to lower Nateo back down, discovering with immense relief that he remains mysteriously unaffected by the direct skin-to-stone contact.
Hospius thanks Vis for saving him from the device, and the two make their silent return up through the dark, damp stairwells. Before parting ways near the guardroom, Hospius cryptically advises Vis to keep the incident quiet and tosses him a silver coin for his discretion. While Vis fetches supplies from the storeroom, he overhears Hospius chatting with Hrolf, probing the older guard about Vis's background and intelligence. Vis panics silently, hoping Hrolf does not accidentally reveal too much or draw dangerous attention to his hidden past.
Hospius eventually departs, leaving Hrolf and Vis to finish their shift. As the city clock tolls for the beginning of true night, Vis prepares to leave Letens Prison. Despite Hrolf's gentle offer to let him stay and share the remaining pay, Vis collects his earned copper triangles, says a guarded goodbye, and steps out into the cold night to head toward the Theatre.
The final section concludes the excerpt with the end marker of the chapter. No additional narrative content or text is provided for summary.
